Top 3 pharmaceutical packaging trends for 2021

In fact, pharmaceutical packaging represents a £60 billion market and is projected to reach £84 billion by 2024.

As the industry continues to expand and challenges shift respectively, it’s essential you stay on top of the latest trends to ensure your business stays strong. Here are the top three pharmaceutical packaging trends to consider for 2021.

1. Eco-friendly pharmaceutical packaging

More and more consumers are becoming aware of the impact both products and packaging can have on the environment. Green, sustainable, eco-friendly packaging, whatever you decide to call it, is a major packaging trend – and it’s not going anywhere. For the pharmaceutical industry however, there must be a balance between environmental efforts and consumer safety.

A popular pharmaceutical packaging product being used to tackle both environmental and consumer safety concerns is PLA packaging. PLA is generally recognised as safe (GRAS) and is used to control the temperature of pharmaceutical products during transit – a crucial requirement for retaining the credibility and integrity of sensitive goods.

As an eco-friendly solution, PLA is also fully compostable and produces 65% less energy than conventional plastics during production. For more information on PLA and to discover product examples that could revolutionise your operations, take a look at our ultimate guide to PLA packaging.

2. Efficient pharmaceutical packaging

Among the COVID-19 pandemic, there’s a high demand for medication. This puts greater pressure on manufacturers to produce products quicker, without sacrificing quality. Efficiency goes beyond manufacturing though, meaning the entire supply process must be considered. From the product packaging, to department procedures and delivery, it’s now more important than ever to meet demands.

Having pharmaceutical packaging that’s easy to assemble, pack, stack, and store can decrease lead times substantially. In 2021, packaging designers will continue to innovate with the goal of finding even faster packaging solutions for pharmaceutical companies to employ.

3. Accessible pharmaceutical packaging

Don’t get us wrong, accessibility is important for all packaging, but for pharmaceuticals, it’s imperative. Becoming more and more popular is self-medication. Think auto injectors, insulin pumps, and glucose monitors. For products like these, informing the patient should be at the top of your list.

With your pharmaceutical packaging, several information points need to be printed to help with accessibility. These include:

• Usage instructions
• Emergency care contact information
• Any allergy warnings
• Expiry dates
• Disposal guidelines

It’s crucial to make this information easy to find and read.

Pharmaceutical packaging solutions from Swiftpak

At Swiftpak, we combine exceptional protection and security with the high-quality presentation your brand deserves. We’re constantly looking for new, innovative solutions to help improve our clients’ pharmaceutical packaging and provide reliable support day-in, day-out. If you’re looking to revolutionise your packaging, discover more about on our pharmaceutical offering, or speak to an expert today.